Signal-lock for mail-boxes.



No. 875,841. PATENTED JAN; 7, 1908. s. PATTERSON & J. w. WISBMAN.

SIGNAL LOOK FOR MAIL BOXES.

APPLICATION IILBD MAR.25. 1907.

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nu: Mmws Pzrzks c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL PATTERSON AND JOHN W. WISEMAN, OF GONZALES COUNTY, TEXAS, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO OLIVER T. PAYNE, OF LAVACA COUNTY, TEXAS.

SIGNAL-LOCK FOR MAIL-BOXES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. '7, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SAMUEL Pivmnasox and JOHN W. WIsEMAN, citizens of the United States, residing in the county of Gonzales and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal-Locks for MaiLBoxes, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to devices for locking the signals used on mail boxes to indicate the presence or absence of mail matter in the box and is especially adapted for use with boxes used in rural mail service and has for its object the provision of a lock that can be applied to the boxes already in use as well as being manufactured as part of the box, that can be operated only from the inside of the box, and that will require but one hand to operate the lock and signal.

The construction and operation of our invention will be described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a view of a conventional mail box partly broken away and showing our improved signal lock in position, Fig. 2, a plan view of the lock partly in section, and Fig. 3, a longitudinal sectional view ol the latch.

In the drawings similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

A indicates a mail box of any selected construction and B a signal therefor having its staff O bent at right angles as shown at D and inserted through a hole in the side of the box A. The portion D is formed with a rectangular shoulder E and a threaded end F.

G indicates a plate secured to the inside of box A, the portion D extending through said plate and'havin'g secured to its rectangular shoulder E a slotted latch guide H carrying a latch I pivotally secured thereto, and J a leaf spring to normally hold latch I depressed, said spring J being held in position bydmeans of a nut K secured on the threaded en F.

The edge 01 plate G is the segment of a circle of which the hole through which the portion .1.) extends is the center and is formed with an overhanging portion L to receive the end of latch guide I1 and is provided with notches M to receive the latch I to hold the signal B in an adjusted position.

It will be understood that as the latch I can be reached only when the box is open the signal can not be changed by anyone not having access to the box. It will also be understood that as the latch guide II is secured to the end of signal statl' C and swings therewith that the signal can be operated with one hand.

Having thus described our invention what we claim is 1. A si nal lock for mail boxes comprising in combination with a mail box having a hole therein, a signal having a stall inserted through said hole, a slotted latch guide secured to the end of said stall, a latch pivotally secured to said guide, and means to engage said latch to hold the signal in an adjusted position, substantially as shown and described.

2. A signal lock for mail boxes comprising in combination with a mail box having a hole therein, a plate secured to the inside of the box and having a hole to register with the hole in the box, said plate being provided with a segmental overhanging portion with notches therein, a signal having a stall i11- serted through the hole in the box and in the plate, a slotted latch guide secured to the end of the signal stall, and a spring actuated latch pivotally secured to said guide and adapted to engage the notches in the overhanging portion aforesaid, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof we hereto allix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL PATTERSON. JOHN IVISEMAN. itnesses g E. J. MERREM, Jon II'UGIIS. 

